Grant charged for Friend rant

Portsmouth manager Avram Grant has been handed an FA charge of improper conduct relating to his behaviour during the 1-1 draw with Sunderland at Fratton Park.

Grant was furious with the performance of referee Kevin Friend and exchanged angry words with the official at half-time, before being banished to the stands for the second 45 minutes.

A short statement on Pompey's official club website read:"The charge relates to Grant's behaviour towards referee Kevin Friend at the conclusion of the first half of the match against Sunderland at Fratton Park on Tuesday night.

"Grant has until 6pm on February 18 to admit or deny the charge. A Regulatory Commission will hear the charge by or before March 5."

Grant had angrily told reporters after the game:"Referees are honest but they go with the atmosphere and they also read the papers, so it is easy to do it.

"I cannot fight against the whole world. For me, about the Premier League deciding on an embargo that did not give us an equal chance.

"Then in the last ten days there are the referees. Against Manchester City there was a clear penalty and a goal from offside. Against Fulham there was a clear offside against Bobby Zamora.

"Against Manchester United it was 1-0 and there was no penalty when (Patrice) Evra used two hands.

"Against Sunderland, two clear penalties against us. I can fight against everything but sometimes it is too much. Maybe it is too easy to do things against us."